FAT CITY HOTELS APPROVED NEAR SOLAR TURBINES

Workers union will appeal to downtown S.D. planning panel

The Fat City hotels project, proposed just east of Solar Turbines downtown, has been approved by the downtown planning agency in San Diego.

The local hotel workers union said it plans to appeal to the Planning Commission.

Kim Kilkenny, chairman of the Centre City Development Corp., approved the project Thursday in his role as acting president of the downtown organization. His board had earlier approved the design.

The six-story, 239,100-square-foot complex of two hotels would be located east of Pacific Highway at Hawthorn Street, just across the street from the Solar Turbines plant.

Solar had previously opposed a similar plan for apartments because of the stringent air pollution rules that apply to residences. The developer, GLJ Partners, and architect-developer Jonathan Segal, submitted the alternate plan that has now been approved.

At a CCDC meeting, representatives of the Unite Here Local 30 hotel workers union objected to the project on planning grounds but Kilkenny said the project complies with zoning and planning rules.

“This is a happy day for the Fat City team,” said Luke Daniels, development director for GLJ Partners. “Gaining approval has been a grueling process that has consumed enormous resources for the past two years. We’re happy to move on.”

Brigitte Browning, president of the Unite Here Local 30 hotel workers union, said the ruling represents the latest in “favors” and “insider deals” to special interest.

“We will appeal the decision and use every legal tool we have to make sure that hotel workers’ rights are not trampled,” she said.

The appeal must be filed by July 2 and there is no further appeal to the City Council.

GLJ President Garth Erdossy said construction on the $40 million project can start next year if there are no further delays.

The project, designed by Gene Fong Associates of Los Angeles, would include 364 rooms in two side-by-side hotels and the facade of the former Tops night club, built in 1941 and lately used for restaurants, Fat City, China Camp and Denny’s. The site is owned by the Frank Fat family, represented locally by Tom Fat until his death in 2007.

Daniels said the new development could serve as a catalyst for this part of Little Italy, which he called a “dead zone” along Pacific Highway.

“It will eliminate a currently blighted corner that sits at the front door of our city— visible to hundreds of motorists approaching or leaving the airport,” Daniels said.